Cart with retractable power cords

ABSTRACT

A cart having retractable power cords. The medical cart including a housing, a reel device connected to the housing, and at least one power cord. The power cord spools and unspools on the reel device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No.61/286,879 filed Dec. 16, 2009, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cart. More specifically,the present invention relates to a medical cart having retractable powercords.

Some hospitals provide nurses with medical or medication carts on whicha network laptop computer facilitates the use of Electronic MedicalAdministration Records. Alternatively, a tool cart may be used tosupport a piece of electronic equipment. Typically, power cords for theinstrument on the carts may be bundled together on top of the cart orhung on a hook on the side of the cart. Unfortunately, the known methodfor holding the power cords sometimes become a tripping hazard topatients and staff members.

As can be seen, there is a need to provide a medical cart that allowsthe medical staff to safely store the power cords of the medicalappliances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a cart includes a housing, areel device connected to the housing, and at least one power cord. Thepower cord spools and un-spools on the reel device.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of the cart according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the cart of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view taken along lines 4-4 ofthe cart of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a carthaving retractable power cords.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of the cart 10 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cart 10 mayinclude a housing 12, a power strip 20 fixed within the housing 12, areel device 26 fixed within the housing 12, and a power cord 24. Thepower cord 24 may be spooled or un-spooled from the reel device 26. Aconnecting device 28 may be placed at one of the ends of the power cord24. The connecting device 28 may protrude from the housing 12 andconnect to an electrical outlet (not shown) on the wall. In oneembodiment, the connecting device 28 may be a male connector.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate how the electrical cords of the medicalappliances 30 may be plugged into the power strip 20. In one embodiment,the electrical cord 22 of the medical appliance 30 may be directlyconnected to the power cord 24.

The housing 12 may be made of a sturdy material. In one embodiment thehousing 12 may be made of metal, plastic, wood, or polymeric material.The housing 12 may have different configurations. In one embodiment, thehousing 12 may have a rectangular or square configuration. The housing12 may include a horizontal platform 18, sides, at least one cabinet 16at one of its sides, and a hollow space 14 on the other side. The hollowspace 14 may be adapted to receive the lower extremities of the user.Medical appliances 30 may be placed on top of the horizontal platform 18of the housing 12. The cabinet 16 may have a size that allows thestorage of the medical appliances 30.

The reel device 26 may be made of an electrical insulated material. Inone embodiment, the reel device 26 may be made of plastic. The reeldevice 26 may include a cylindrical reel drum onto which the power cord24 may be spooled. The drum may rotate about a central axis to spooland/or un-spool the power cord 24 with respect to the cylindrical drumsurface. The reel device 26 may have a size that does not interfere withthe internal working of the cart. The reel device 26 may be mounted onany wall of the housing 12. The medical cart 10 may include two or morepower strips 20 and/or reel devices 26.

The length of the power cord 24 may be long enough to reach anelectrical outlet on the wall. The power cord 24 may be extended to apower device or a battery charger inside the cart 10.

Wheels (not shown) may be placed at the bottom of the medical cart 10.

In one embodiment, a connector (not shown) may be mounted on top of thehorizontal platform 18 or one of the sides of the housing 12. In oneembodiment, the connector may be an electrical outlet. The medicalappliance 30 may plug into the electrical outlet.

In an alternative embodiment, the electrical cords 22 of the medicalappliance 30 may be passed through a hole on the platform 18 of thehousing 12. The hole may have a diameter of about ¾ inches. Theelectrical cord 22 of the medical appliance 30 may then be plugged intothe power strip 20.

The present invention is not limited to the use of medical appliances.Any appliance including a power cord may be used in conjunction with themedical cart of the present invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A cart comprising: a housing; a reel device connected to the housing;and at least one power cord; wherein the power cord spools and un-spoolson the reel device.
 2. The cart of claim 1 wherein the cart is amedical, medication or tool cart.
 3. The cart of claim 1, furtherincluding at least one power strip attached to the housing.
 4. The cartof claim 3, wherein the housing is adapted to receive an appliancehaving an electrical cord, wherein the electrical cord of the applianceis connected to the power strip.
 5. The cart of claim 1, wherein thehousing is adapted to receive an appliance having an electrical cord,wherein the electrical cord of the appliance is directly connected tothe power cord.
 6. The cart of claim 1, wherein the housing includes ahorizontal platform, a first side, a second side, at least one cabinetlocated on the first side, and a hollow space located on the secondside, wherein the hollow space is adapted to receive the lowerextremities of a user.
 7. The cart of claim 1, wherein the power cord isretractable.
 8. The cart of claim 6, further comprising an electricalconnector placed on the horizontal platform, wherein the electricalconnector is plugged into the power cord.
 9. The cart of claim 6,wherein the power cord is connected to a battery charger.